In this series, thoseinvolved with CLC foreign missions profile one aspect of our overseas endeavors.
There are three passages in particular in the Book of Acts that give us a glimpse into the thrust of our God in the apostolic days. This thrust was to continue by the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) though the apostles and their successors went to be with the Lord. These bookmarks of mission history in Luke’s days are 6:7, 12:24, and 19:20.
“And the Word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7 RSV)
While it all started in Jerusalem, it did not end there. Like an explosion, it spread outwards. The more that believed in Jerusalem, the more there would be to spread the Gospel when the persecutions arose. The more that believed, the more that could be said of Him and His amazing grace. Do we think of multiplying in order to multiply? What was first seen in Jerusalem was replicated elsewhere over and over again.
How can this happen? The answer is “the Word of God increased.” If we truly believe that the Spirit comes with the Word, that it is His sword to pierce to the heart and mind, then how shall we talk and how shall we act? Apostles died, their successors died, and on and on it went, but the Bible is “the living and abiding Word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23 RSV) It does not perish, though we turn to dust and ashes and our soul departs this veil of tears. Whether spoken or written, it is His tool to craft the wretch into a child of God. He does it superbly.
“But the Word of God grew and multiplied.” (Acts 12:24)
By the time we read this in Acts there has been an unexpected harvest: in Samaria through the deacons’ work, an Ethiopian has heard Isaiah explained that he might return to his country with Good News, Saul the hater of Christ and persecutor of the church has become the persecuted, Cornelius the first European convert has witnessed all at his house gathering baptized, and Barnabas has been to Antioch in Syria which became a seedbed for far-ranging efforts. Look at what God wrought by His Spirit-inspired, empowered, accompanied Word! The Word has continued to grow, enrapturing more and more to its heavenly melody. In ever-widening circles the enlivening Gospel breeze swept.
“So the Word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily.” (Acts 19:20 RSV)
There is yet more outreach recorded in Acts. At chapter nineteen, right before the verse above, we read that by faith the believers at Ephesus gave up in smoke the value of fifty thousand pieces of silver as they burned the devil’s books of magical arts. They were not going to let the devil’s practices spread if they could help it, as they were intent on spreading the Christ’s love absent of any compromise along the way. This spiritual vibrance of the early Christian church has got to be inspiring. The Word convinced, captured and held.
By this point in Acts, two of the three ever-more-expansive journeys of Paul are recorded, and we are on the third. Get a map and see—it was up, over, around, and through rather than sitting in one region circumambulating a rather tiny area. Paul was the original circuit rider, who did not hesitate to go beyond the ground he had already covered.
And the Spirit, working through the Word, also multiplied workers. Over thirty people are designated in one way or another in Scripture as “fellow workers” with Paul. There may well have been more. These people were all over the map, so to speak, as the Word prevailed. May it prevail in your heart also that you support Christ’s “Go into all the world” (Mark 16:15), and help to repeat this Gospel history.
has served as a foreign missionary in Africa, India, and elsewhere. Though officially retired, he continues to be active in the synod’s mission endeavors.
